THE BIRTH OF THE BRIDGISM MOVEMENT SHAKURSPEARE POSTER

THE BIRTH OF THE BRIDGISM MOVEMENT SHAKURSPEARE POSTER

Celebrate the Birth Of The Bridgism Movement with this hand signed commemorative poster by Darrin Keith Bastfield, artist, author, and founder of the Bridgism movement.

Poster Size: 30 x 40, Archival quality, hand signed

Darrin Keith Bastfield created drawings for Shakurspeare in 1988 and finished the oil on canvas painting in 1996 entitled, “Shakurspeare”. This would be considered by Bastfield, the birth of the Bridgism movement. This masterpiece came about after Darrin’s conversation with Rap legend Tupac Shakur during the time they attended the Baltimore School for the Arts. Long before Tupac’s fame, he expressed to Darrin his true passion for being a Shakespearean Actor. In response to this surprising revelation, Darrin created a quick sketch of Tupac in an imagined Shakespearean costume. Darrin showed Tupac the drawing and they both laughed. This first drawing created in 1988 led to a series of sketches which ended in the completion of this untimely painting.

Darrin later wrote a book entitled, “Back in the Day: my life and times with Tupac Shakur”, which was published by Randomhouse/One World/ Ballantine in 2002.In Chapter 13 of the book, Darrin illustrates his unforgettable conversation with Tupac.As an actor, the ease with which Tupac remembered lines was incredible, and his knowledge of craft impressive. When I asked him one afternoon the type of actor he wished to be, his reply was immediate: “A Shakespearean actor.” He said this without emotion, from the windowsill at the foyer of the apartment, not breaking his passive yet focused gaze outward. “A what?!” I replied. Taken aback. And he repeated himself. “Why?! They don’t make any money.” I was thoroughly confused. The Tupac I knew was destined for far greater things than low- budget productions in small play houses. I envisioned him marching through the entertainment industry to some star-spangled movie or TV career, and untold millions. And I just assumed that his vision for himself was twice as grand as any I could conjure for him. His reply was disappointingly anticlimactic and downright troubling. He calmly informed me that Shakespearean actors were the very best in the world. That Shakespeare could not be faked. And that great skill and training were required of those so ambitious as to attempt the material. At that moment I envisioned a painting of him dressed in Renaissance attire, with ruffled collar, tights, and all. I told him of the idea, and that I would call the painting “ Shakurseare.” He jokingly stiffened into a formal pose, throwing his nose in the air and following it with his gaze, clutching the rap pad that had been in his hand. I told him to hold the pose and grabbed my own notepad from the coffee table. I did a quick pen sketch to show off my skills. It was the first drawing I did of him. We laughed about it afterwards."

Written by William Rhodes, Artist, Art Historian, and Co-founder of Three Point Nine Art Colective of San Franscisco CA.